Ferrari told backing Hamilton over Leclerc may be only path to the title against Mercedes

After seven races, helped in part by Leclerc's back-to-back retirements in Monaco and Barcelona, the seven-time world champion has stretched his advantage over his team-mate to 40 points in the standings. Leclerc now sits fourth in the championship and a considerable distance behind leader Kimi Antonelli. The picture is different for Hamilton. The Briton currently occupies second place and trails Antonelli by 41 points. While still a significant deficit, it leaves him much closer to the championship battle and in a far more realistic position to mount a title challenge than his team-mate.

Speaking to Sky Sports in Barcelona, the 1997 world champion suggested Ferrari could soon face a delicate internal situation. Villeneuve pointed out that Leclerc was recently handed a long-term contract and has long been viewed as the cornerstone of the team's future, yet it is Hamilton who is currently delivering the stronger results and leading Ferrari's charge at the front.

With Hamilton firmly in the championship fight and Leclerc already losing ground, Villeneuve believes Ferrari may eventually be forced to make difficult decisions if it wants to maximise its chances of challenging for the title. In his view, the team cannot afford to leave any option unexplored and may need to fully commit to the driver with the best chance of taking the fight to the championship leader.

Wolff was full of praise for Hamilton following the Ferrari driver's victory in Barcelona, admitting he was genuinely pleased to see his former driver return to the top step of the podium after enduring a difficult period, particularly throughout last season. The Mercedes boss also expressed his happiness for Vasseur, acknowledging the immense pressure that comes with leading Ferrari and describing the Frenchman as a close friend who has had to navigate challenging circumstances.

Looking ahead, however, Wolff made it clear that Hamilton remains a serious threat in the championship battle. Having witnessed first-hand how the seven-time world champion operates when momentum swings in his favour, he warned that Hamilton is one of the most dangerous drivers on the grid once he senses an opportunity, making him an opponent few would want to face in a title fight.

Wolff also believes Hamilton's hopes of securing an eighth world championship are very much alive. With the season still in its early stages and the gap in the standings far from insurmountable, he pointed out that a single retirement can dramatically alter the picture. For Mercedes, that only reinforces the importance of improving reliability, continuing to develop both the car and power unit, executing races cleanly and avoiding costly mistakes as the title battle intensifies.